Villa Thea

Hotel Description

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much when I first pulled up to Villa Thea in Afantou – you know how these smaller Greek properties can be hit or miss. But walking through those doors, I immediately got that feeling you hope for but rarely find: this place actually gets it. The owners have somehow managed to create something that feels authentically Greek without falling into the tourist trap clichés, and after spending time there, I can see why it’s earned that impressive 9.2 rating.

What really struck me was how Villa Thea sits in this sweet spot between Rhodes’ busier tourist areas and the real Greece that most visitors never see. Afantou itself is still refreshingly local – you’ll hear more Greek than English in the morning cafés, and the beach here doesn’t have the crowds you get closer to Rhodes Town. The villa’s location means you’re actually living among Greeks, not just visiting them, which honestly makes all the difference. I loved that I could walk to the local bakery for those flaky cheese pies (the owner speaks perfect English, by the way) and still be at Rhodes’ main attractions in twenty minutes by car. Parking was never an issue either, which – trust me – is not something you can take for granted on these islands.

The property itself has this lived-in elegance that you can’t fake. Sure, it’s a 4-star place, but it doesn’t feel stuffy or overly polished. The rooms have character – thick stone walls that keep things cool even in August, and those little touches like locally-made ceramics and linens that actually smell like they’ve been dried in Mediterranean sun. I mean, the check-in process alone told me everything I needed to know about how they operate here. No rushing, no corporate script, just genuine conversation about the best tavernas nearby and which beaches to hit depending on the wind direction. The staff clearly lives in the area and loves sharing their insider knowledge, which is refreshing after dealing with so many places where the front desk feels like they’ve never stepped outside the hotel lobby. One thing I’ll mention – if you’re someone who needs complete silence to sleep, the occasional late-night conversation from the terrace might carry, but honestly, it just added to that authentic Greek atmosphere where life happens outdoors and nobody’s in a rush to end a good evening.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $285. Villa with Private Pool with 2 single beds and 2 × 1 large double bed for Max persons: 6

Reviews

• Zoltán from Hungary – 9 August 2023 (10/10)

  The villa is located near (some kilometers) to the village Afantou on a hill with beautiful view to the surrounding hills and also the see. The villa is very well equipped, dishwasher, wash machine, coffee maker, etc… We spent there one week (2 adult + 3 kids), the villa is very spacious and comfortable, the outdoor private pool is pretty good. You can have everything in the villa what you need to spend there 1-2 weeks.
  
  What could be improved: The road from the roadway/village to the villa and its surrounding is not so nice. Lot of villas are just being built there, so most probably this will improve in the near future. Shops, restaurants are in the village, so you need car to go there, also to the beach. Walking downhill and uphill is not recommended, at least not with small kids.

• Bridges from United Kingdom – 11 July 2023 (8/10)

  Lovely villa with everything you could need
  
  What could be improved: The hot water tank tended to run out before 6 people could have quick showers

• Cohen from Israel – 29 October 2023 (9/10)

  הכל היה לפי מה שתואר בבוקינג. המארחת היתה אדיבה ועזרה לנו בכל מה שהצטרכנו. היתה בעיה במים החמים במקלחת ובעלת הבית פתרה את הבעיה בזמן קצר.

• Verena from Germany – 12 October 2023 (9/10)

  Das Haus ist sehr gut und liebevoll ausgestattet. Viele Dinge sind vorhanden, wie Kerzen, Spiele, Sandspielzeug, Sonnenschirme, Reiseführer, Mückenspray, Gewürzen und einer sehr guten Küchenausstattung. Der Willkommenskorb hat uns am Anreisetag gerettet. 😉

• Andrei from Estonia – 26 July 2024 (10/10)

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities